To offer an introductory class in black and white photography over the course of eight weeks, with an exhibition of student work at the end of the course. By the end of the class students should be comfortable using a 35mm camera, loading, exposing and processing black and white film, handling chemistry, using an enlarger and controlling the exposure and contrast of their prints. Successful work will require out of workshop time to take pictures and make prints. Classes will be spent covering the aforementioned information in addition to a brief history of the medium, having group critiques and preparing work for an exhibition.

Timeline

Week 1: Introduction to the darkroom: safety, materials and chemistry, using a 35mm Camera. Week 2: Processing FilmWeek 3: Introduction to the enlargers; photograms and contact sheets. Overview of establish photographersWeek 4: Using the Enlarger; Printing, Individual Meetings throughout the class after DemonstrationWeek 5: Critique, looking at work of establishes photographersWeek 6: Work Day; troubleshooting, enlarging continuedWeek 7: Work Day. Group discussion concerning exhibition, and methods of presentation Week 8: In Class Printing time/help. Curate exhibition as a group

* Assignments will be given each class, and students are expected to shoot at least one roll of film a week, more is strongly encouraged

Materials Required (Provided by Students)Camera: 35mm SLR (preferred), however we will work within limitations or alternative cameras/formatsFilm: Ilford HP5 is strongly recommended; and will be made available to purchase off of a bulk roll if interest is expressed a minimum of one week prior to the beginning of the course. Students will need at least 8 rolls of film.Paper: Ilford MGIV VC FB 8x10 in 100 sheet is recommendedNegative PreserversBinder and NotebookTowel

All film and paper process and developement chemistry will be provided.

Fees and AccessAn induction will take place at the beginning, requiring a 15pound fee plus a current photo to be used with new forest darkroom id. This induction fee is required along with ID for anyone who wishes to use the forest darkroom regardless of whether they are participating in a course or not.

A lab fee of 30 pounds/ student will be required to cover the cost of chemistry and access. Each student will be granted priority for reserved weekly developing and printing slots of a maximum of 4 hours per week for the duration of the course at no additional charge.

The rate for darkroom access has been determined to be 3 pounds per 2 hour slot or 5 pounds per four hour slot and can be pre-reserved via the darkroom booking system online. Drop-ins for darkroom time will also be acceptable but will need to provide their valid forest darkroom id and full payment in cash before the beginning of a printing slot. The Id will be held in the cafe until the end of the slot.

Ideally all darkroom users will note their chemical usage down in the logbook which will be kept in the darkroom as a way for the darkroom facilitators/co-ordinators to better moderate usage, make sure there is enough chemistry available and adjust lab and induction fees to be more affordable.

The forest darkroom needs to have the "rent," utilities & chemicals covered, a surplus fund for new equipment and/or equipment repair in the future which would basically make the darkroom self-sustaining and flourish.

We have a student capacity of 8 students max. If you are interested in signing up for the course please post as a reply to this thred.Your name, prefferred contact info, and are you an old or new member. Thanks!

so we have people interested in Mondays, after 7:30pm, and any day after 6:30?I'm not sure if i stated a length for each class, which i was thinking world be anywhere from 2-4 hours a week, depending on how much we cover, ...

I am keen but won't be done with exams and desperately filling head with associated nonsense til halfway through October. Also need to find a film camera again, tried putting memory card & paper into developing solution but it makes some kind of soup? not the tasty kind, needless to say.

I think maybe holding off till the end of Oct might work for a number of you.

there are a bunch of places to get cheap film cameras, car boots, the thrift and bethany shops, or if you're looking for something a little bit more versatility/ control i recomend cameraatics on Morningside road...

they seem to have loads of stuff.

there's also a nice man down by haymarket who's got a good number of analogue cameras at reasonable prices, can't remember the name of the store. Ill repost

Also check ebay. Can get very decent SLR film cameras for such a small amount of dough.

if you see something you like but aren't sure about it, i can also take a look and let you know if i think it's a good deal or whatever